Siblings Vincent and Cristine Cambrea
Bellview – Cristine Cambrea meant it as a joke when she sent a picture of a castle to her younger brother in the middle of the night.
“We were looking for a space to create a health and wellness retreat, which could also serve as a workspace for artist,” she said.
Ms. Cambrea knows a thing or two about art. For the last two decades, she has successfully navigated the art world with galleries and showings south Florida all the way to New York City.
“I found this picture of the castle in Murphy online one night, and I thought, ‘Why not?’ ” So she sent the picture to her brother, Vincent, with the question, “How about a castle?”
Like his sister, Cambrea was up for the adventure. The duo already had years, and his in creative woodwork and building – served them well. Plus, they really like each other.
Cambrea said it best: “Cristine is my best friend.” They booked a weekend in the castle, which was then owned by Joy Stein, and by the time they drove back home they were in love with the place.
“It was the potential of the place that drew us in,” Cambrea said. “There was no limit on what we could create there.”
Working renovation
They called it their “empty canvas.” Shortly after they signed the deed, the brother and sister put on their work clothes and began the renovation.
The work would take them a year and half and was filled with misadventures, gritty, exhausting days and – in true Cambrea style – loads of fun. The work was challenging, as they had to squeeze it in between bookings.
“When we bought it, we honored Stein’s guests who had booked before the sale.” Ms. Cambrea said. “We would drive up there for a three- or four-day work spree and when we were finished, we had to store all of our equipment and tools into closets so the castle would be ready for guests.”
Cambrea had no commercial experience in construction, so, for him the work could sometimes be intimidating. “I just remained confident that it would all work out,” he said.
His confidence was well placed. The Castle of Joy, named after their desire to bring joy to the space and as a secret nod to Ms. Cambrea’s middle name, is truly a joyful place. The 3,500-square-foot castle overlooks 11 lush acres with ponds, moats and long-ranging views, and its halls are filled with whimsey and magic.
The siblings were well trained for this massive endeavor. Their parents raised all four of their children with a sturdy work ethic. Their father was a first-generation American who came to the United States in his early 20s from a small village in Italy. He didn’t know the language or have any marketable skills, but through pluck and ingenuity made his way, and eventually provided well for his family.
‘Pleasure of the tasks’
With his experiences came a lesson about hard work and earning one’s way in the world. He was strict with the children, handing out chores and duties to teach them pride in their work.
Cambrea said fondly, “We were taught that the success wasn’t measured in outcome, but in the pleasure of the tasks themselves.”
The siblings applied these lessons to their castle.
“We never want to be finished with the castle.” Ms. Cambrea said. Her brother added, “For us, work is not a negative thing. Work, for us, is pleasure.”
Their father came out to join the fun, as they turned a 1,000-square-foot pole barn workshop into a carriage barn, where guests could hold receptions or large events.
Things weren’t always so amiable between father and daughter. Ms. Cambrea left the family home at age 17 to move to New York City and find her way as a model and artist. Her parents disapproved of her move, as they hoped their only daughter would live a more traditional life as a homemaker, wife, and mother. But she paid attention to her father’s lessons about success and was determined to find her way in a career that brought her pleasure.
At heart, Ms. Cambrea is a joy seeker. As she slowly built a name for herself in the world, appearing on magazine covers and opening galleries, her parents began to accept what she knew all along – her place in the world was to create beauty.
They certainly couldn’t deny the happiness she had found in doing so. Cambrea said shortly after his sister left, their father began nudging the boys to “be more like their sister.”
The castle, in all its majesty, will continue to transform and change for as long as the Cambreas own it. And for them, that will be a lifetime. They intend to leave the castle to their children as a legacy of how they turned their sweat, tears and sometimes even blood into the Castle of Joy.